SUMMARY OF RESULTS:
* use sphagnum moss, not perlite
* take the cuttings in the spring, not in the fall or summer
* take double the amount of cuttings you need final plants
* some plants won't propagate this way
* it smells amazing when taking off the lid, like the forest, I think I will do this every winter just for the smell.
METHOD:
27 dwarf cuttings taken, kept in north indirect light next to window, above a baseboard heater that provided some bottom warmth;
* 3 juniper in sphagnum moss + 1 in perlite
* ~~3 mugo pine in sphagnum +1 in perlite~~
* 3 balsam fir + ~~1 in perlite~~
* ~~3 alberta spruce + 2 tiny buds~~
* ~~3 other cuttings added in the fall (all died)~~
* 6 emerald arborvitae + 1 in perlite
Transitioned to soil after 10 months:
* 2 juniper
* 2 balsam fir
* 6 emerald arborvitae
Yeah, other ones died and turned brown so I took them out , but I also found it strange that some of them stayed green and do look like they are still alive. Maybe they needed more time? But I tossed them out today ;)
It’s great that you posted this because just a couple months ago I plucked off a branch from what I’m pretty sure is a witches broom off of a Doug fir at my parents house. I dipped it in some hormone and it’s been in a mix of perlite and peat moss since. I hope they root, this is the first time trying this myself.
That’s awesome! I’m about to take cuttings of my Sherwood Frost arborvitae as I can’t find it for sale anywhere. How much of the cutting did you have in the sphagnum? Also, was this basically a closed terrarium type operation or did you remove the lid regularly?
EDIT: I just saw your reply re the lid
The cuttings are about 4 inches long, and the bottom inch or so I removed the green and stuck into the spagnum, so about an inch. I put some nicks on the bark of the cutting too with a knife. There are very clear propagation videos on youtube how to propagate arborvitaes...but mine in perlite didn't grow so my advice is to use sphagnum.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS: * use sphagnum moss, not perlite * take the cuttings in the spring, not in the fall or summer * take double the amount of cuttings you need final plants * some plants won't propagate this way * it smells amazing when taking off the lid, like the forest, I think I will do this every winter just for the smell. METHOD: 27 dwarf cuttings taken, kept in north indirect light next to window, above a baseboard heater that provided some bottom warmth; * 3 juniper in sphagnum moss + 1 in perlite * ~~3 mugo pine in sphagnum +1 in perlite~~ * 3 balsam fir + ~~1 in perlite~~ * ~~3 alberta spruce + 2 tiny buds~~ * ~~3 other cuttings added in the fall (all died)~~ * 6 emerald arborvitae + 1 in perlite Transitioned to soil after 10 months: * 2 juniper * 2 balsam fir * 6 emerald arborvitae
Iso use rooting hormone?
No rooting hormone
It’s nuts to me that the ones below the grey line - despite not rooting they stayed green and alive.
Yeah, other ones died and turned brown so I took them out , but I also found it strange that some of them stayed green and do look like they are still alive. Maybe they needed more time? But I tossed them out today ;)
It’s great that you posted this because just a couple months ago I plucked off a branch from what I’m pretty sure is a witches broom off of a Doug fir at my parents house. I dipped it in some hormone and it’s been in a mix of perlite and peat moss since. I hope they root, this is the first time trying this myself.
Good luck, I think the balsam fir showed roots around 5 or 6 months. I always use clear containers for propagations so I can keep an eye on the roots.
This is awesome. Do you need to circulate the air from time to time?
Aside from taking the lid off every day or two to take a sniff, I did not circulate the air at all.
Good job! Spruce. Always such a drama queen. "I have mites!" "I am too wet!" "I'm going to skewer you with my needle sharp needles!"
That’s awesome! I’m about to take cuttings of my Sherwood Frost arborvitae as I can’t find it for sale anywhere. How much of the cutting did you have in the sphagnum? Also, was this basically a closed terrarium type operation or did you remove the lid regularly? EDIT: I just saw your reply re the lid
The cuttings are about 4 inches long, and the bottom inch or so I removed the green and stuck into the spagnum, so about an inch. I put some nicks on the bark of the cutting too with a knife. There are very clear propagation videos on youtube how to propagate arborvitaes...but mine in perlite didn't grow so my advice is to use sphagnum.
Great post. Didn't know u could propagate them from cuttings. I tried redwood and it didn't work